When you find the one… stop looking

Note for The Boy…. you know how I give you hell when you don’t read my blog? I will forgive you if you don’t read this one… but just in case you do – I’ll spare some details.

This weekend the Boy was out of town and I said “Yes”

To the Dress.

This is going to take a while so let’s get started.

My search started where most searches begin these days, with Google. Shortly after getting engaged (and by shortly I of course mean the next day) I got my first bridal magazine. I found a dress I thought I might like, so I Googled the designer (Watters by Watters) and found another dress I loved. I loved everything about it. I loved that it wasn’t strapless, not too poofy, I wouldn’t look like a cake, it was a little fun with the flowers. Lovely. I started my for real, live and in person search last weekend with a store that was having a Watters trunk show at the end of the month.

After Googling “Trunk show” to learn what the hell that meant I understood that there would be sales at said show, but also more pressure to make a decision. The store recommended that I come in before the show, try on some dresses so I would have an idea of what I was looking for when I came for the show. Great. Let the hunt begin!

Felicia was the first store. Great news – they had the dress I originally had my eye on, plus a whole bunch more by the Wtoo and Watters. I brought my Sista and my mom and off we went in a complete blizzard to try on dresses. When I got to the original dress I tried it on and HATED it.

Lesson 1: You cannot judge a dress by a picture on the internet.

I tried on a bunch of other dresses and left the day feeling pretty good about my twofavourites from that store. I should note here that the consultant I had at Felicia was pretty good, she didn’t clamp me into any dresses which I later discovered is key, but she also didn’t pressure me at all. Granted she knew I had an appointment for their trunk show, but nonetheless she also knew this was my first time looking brought me tons of different styles and suggestions. A very relaxed first experience. I also loved her for Lesson 2.

Lesson 2: When it comes to wedding dresses, turns out I am not busty.

WHAT? I could have kissed her! My big fear of strapless was I would feel like I was falling out of it, or I would constantly be pulling at it. Apparently not the case. W-day dresses are made for super tall, and SUPER big racks. Mine actually looked on the small side. Weird.

Moving on to the marathon

Since I found two that I really liked and they would be on sale at the end of the month, I took some lieu time on Friday and started a W-day marathon. I needed to know whether I was going back for the sale or not. I made 3 appointments on Friday afternoon and Saturday and invited my Mom and Sista (who happened to also have Friday off) and my lovely Godmother aka Mom #2. Mom #2 couldn’t make it to the first appointment so my appointment at Becker’s Bridal was just with an entourage of 2 again.

My consultant here, Roza asked me what I was looking for, looked at my shape and told me to look around and pull what I liked and she would do the same. They also had the two Watters dresses that I liked from the week before so she pulled one of those (the more detailed one for those that have clicked through).

I tried on a bunch, but definitely had a new favourite in the first one I tried there – one that Roza had pulled for me. At Becker’s I learned another valuable lesson.

Lesson 3: The jumper cable clamps on the back of a dress like they show on TV (Say Yes To the Dress styles) are key. W-dresses are fitted to your body, so the clamps really give you a good idea of what each dress will look like in the end.

And another.

Lesson 4: I look firggin’ awesome in W-dresses! Excuse my modesty, but it turns out that curvy girls with boobs and hips look awesome in LOTS of different styles.

There were few styles of dress that looked terrible. There were details about dress I may have hated, but the different shapes from ballgown, to A-line, to trumpet and mermaid all looked do-able. But one style worked the best and that was dropped waist A-line.

I was getting to really know what I liked and what I didn’t.

I had a new favourite, but also had another 2 appointments booked and Mom #2 meeting us at the next one, so I said Good-bye to Roza and moved on.

The drama continues tomorrow – where my mom learned to use a camera and started taking pictures… of her knee.

I can’t wait to see your dress! I also like that your mom took pictures of her knee. My Dad does similar things. Pictures of feet, the camera cord, thumbs, etc.

I got my dress at Felichia! It was the first (and only) store I went to, not thinking I would find anything. I found a dress that I liked, was half price, and boom! Done. Now I’m trying to figure out what to do with it. I know you haven’t worn yours yet, but are you planning to keep it? I can’t decide.

Oh she’ll be so glad to know she’s not the only one who has a hard time with cameras! The best part is that she is using her iPhone and has an app that takes 5 in a row to minimize shakiness so she ends up with 5 pictures of a knee, or her finger, or her purse. Classic mom.

Felicia’s half price rack was very tempting that’s for sure! As for what to do with it… I’ll probably keep it – wear it when I vaccum or something. But if you are thinking about how to get rid of it there is a store downtown that takes previously loved W-dresses, cleans them, sells them and donates ALL of the Profit to cancer research. Also each dress comes with a letter from the previous bride. Very sweet idea that I love. I considered looking there but the idea of ending up with a w-dress that someone had loved but then died (fairly common I guess of young women that die of cancer so their family donates the dress to a very meaningful cause) creeped me out WAY too much to risk it. You can check it out here http://www.thebridesproject.com